Tapeeed-splice-knittilirg machine



Jan. 27, 1931. H. M ADAMS 1,790,588

'I'APERED SPLICE KNITTING MACHINE F'ild Feb. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l J m-LQ 1-151" P M Adam-:5.

. 'IN V EN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1931. H. Mc 1,790,588

TAPERED SPLICE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H 53:51 M ACIamEI- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1931. H. M ADAMS TAPERED SPLICE KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheei 5 Filed Feb. 2. 1929 Jmzv, 1931. a 4 H. M ADAMS 1,790,588

TAPERED SPLICE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 11v VENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1931.

TAPE'RED SPLICE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Evy/FM ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 oNiTEosTArEs PATENT oer-m HARRY MGADAMS, or ATLANTIC orrxnnw JE SEY r PE En-srmoE-mv r'rme Mncninr: I

l Application filed February 2, 1929. Serial no. 336,943,

5 Theprimary object of the invention is the V provision of an improved knitting machine of the circular seamless stocking knitting type, by means of which the shape of the reinforcing splice may be varied through 1nanipulation of the needles in a practical and efficient relation, to provide a preferably ta pered' hi h splice or reinforcing splice,the edges of which will be accurately "tapered,

' without Variation Other objects and advantages of this invention 'will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part offthis specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

' Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation of the knitting machine having the improvement applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the knitting machine, showing certain new parts applied to the conventional parts of the knit-ting machine, for the purpose of carrying out my invention. 1 V I Figure 3is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the cylinder and cylinder connecting portions of the machine, taken just below the cylinder and showing novel parts cooperating therewith and with the conventional clutch lever.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation, ina developed plane, of the needle and jack cooperating parts and series used upon-the cylinder of-the machine,'for carrying out'my invention. o;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the cylinder of the knitting machine, substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3. 1 3

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View, somewhat enlarged, showing the plunger pick in its cooperating relation upon certain splice splice which the machine will knit in'a stock In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationjis'shown only a preferredembodiment of the'invention, the letter A may 5,5 generally designate a'conventional knitting machine, which, as'shown, is the Pigeon type ofspring needleknitter, such as set forth in U. S. Patent rl,266,04c4. The knitting machine,however,may be of any conventional type, such as used for the knitting of seamless hosiery, as itis entirely practical and 3 feasible to use the nvention in connection with the latch needle type ofjknittingmachine. Such machine to which the-invention may be applied is the Banner type, as disclosed in the U. S. Hemphill Patent #933,448. In the machine A, a rotating needle cylinder 10 --is mounted ina suitable frame or table '11, constituting; part ofthe' knitting machine; the needle cylinder being arranged to rotate, and reciprocate or oscillateduringthe, formation of the h'eelt and toe'porti ons of the stocking, The means foraeifecting the rotary and reciprocatory movements are substantially the same. asset forth in the U S. patents above referred to, and are well known in this art. A number of yarn feeding elements are provided in the usual positions, suclras shown at 12 in Figure 2 of the drawings, pivoted at 13, for the purpose of introducing main knitting and heel and toe knitting and, reinforcing yarns, as will be well understood 1 by those skilledin this art. Suitable control 8 mechanisms are provided for regulatinglthe feeding of theseyarns to the needles for conventional knitting. V y

The ordinary stationary cam ring 15 is provided atthe t opof the cylinder, for reg-. 9b

ulating the yarnsupporters and beard depresse'rs, and carrying other. accessories well known to those in this art, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, .ajbracket arm, 16 suitably attached to standardl'l' of ,the frame of ,the machine may support a spool 18. of the splice yarn. The splice yarn may extend upwardly through asuitable tubularguide=l 9.;, a nd is; threaded arg e the 20 i :3 are ran trol arm or element 21, which is pivoted Figure 2'. The free end of the splice control arm 21 normally rests upon the cam ring 15,

remote from the yarn feeding ends of the other arms 12 above mentioned.

The cylinder 10 is made relatlvely longer "than the usual knitting machine cylinder,

since it is intended to support beneath certain of the splice yarn receiving needles two superposed series of slidable jacks, which may be seen in Figure 4, and will be subsequently described; To this end, the frame table 11 is spaced above the usual cylinder supporting bed for a distance greater than in conventional formation, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings; The cylinder 10 is preferably provided with a segmental depending skirt 31 at the lower end thereof, adapted to support certain series of jacks for cooperation with a plunger type of-pick 33, shown in 'Figureh of'the drawinga'and which will be subsequently described. This segmental jack 'supporting'portion 31 need only be provided thru 90 of the cylinder,"but the preferred construction is provided about 180 thereof, for reinforcing purposes. The cylinder gear'35 is'detachably bolted or connected a't'36 to the lower edge of the cylinder a'bove'the skirt portion 31; the said cylinder gear 35 resting'in usual manner upon the supporting bed 30, as shown in Figure 5. Referring to the arrangement ofneedles uponthecylinder, as developed in Figure 4:

of the drawings, the upper needlesupporting part of the cylinder is preferably provided w1th a series of needles K, shown in Figure 4, which are provided with short butts 38.

Completing the circular arrangement of needles on the cylinder 1s the serlesof needles L, of the same length as the needles K, but provided with long butts 39, designated in heavy blackin Figure 4 of thefdrawings.

These series of needles K andL are actuated bythe usual cylinder cams' tO for the knitting ofthe stocking, using a main yarn 0 o u a v 0.1", as shown 1n F1gure/lgthe knitting taking place at a location 4l-2,-as shown lilSilld figure, during rotary knitting. The cylinder cams also lnclude acomplete set of cams for performing'the usual knitting of the main,

' forth in the Us. Pigeon Penman-1,266,044

heel andtoe yarns during full rotary or reciprocatory movement of c the cylinder, and 1t is not thought necessary to further explain this arrangement of cams,as"it :is set and #1,330,818, and is well understood in this art; 'In the particulaninstance' shown, the needles of the seriesK'and L are the spring beard type, al though they may be ofthe latch type. Theheeland toe vportions of the stocking are of course formed on the series of needles'K; this operation being controlled by V the, usual pattern control. mechanism. Upon having a tapered effectfrom the heel upward" 1y. To this end, there is positioned upon the cylinder beneath the series of needles K two series of elevating jacks M and N; the former being arranged on the cylinder in ad-- vance of the latter, that is, so far as rotation of the cylinder during full rotary knitting is concerned. Furthermore, on the cylinder, beneath the series of jacks M, there is employed a series. of jacks P, one for each of the jacks of the seriesM, as shown inFigure l of the drawings.

In the preferred-arrangement of needles upon the cylinder, I prefer toprovide 260- needles, there being 130 needles in the series K and 130 needles in the series L. This is merely by way of example and may vary. The IHELXIHIUIII .wldth of the tapered splice 1s regulated by the number of aclrs provided in the series M and N. In practice I have found that a total of 116 of such acks are desirable for use upon a 260-needle cylinder. There are 58 of these ja-cks in each series;

M and N, which makes seven less stitches'at'j each side of the maximum width of the ta pered splice than the heel at its widest part; The vertical axis of the tapered splice will,

of course, fall along the division'line where the series of splice jacks M'and N meet, as

indicated by numeral 45 in Figure 4 of the drawings. 7 While the above is the'preferred numerical arrangement of the needles and acks, such numbers are not shownin Figure 4;, for the purpose of-good illustration. The

arrow in Figure 4:-designates the'direction ofcylinder rotation, and due to the fact that the jacks of the series M and N must be successively elevated starting at the location 4 5, in opposite directions, to vary-the width" of the splice starting'at the'verticalcentral axis thereof, it is apparent that, for the series of jacks M whlch are. successlvely elevated starting from the location45 and continuing in the d1rect1on of rotation of the cyllnder,

the usual pivoted type of jack or needle-picker cannot be used; The jacks of the series" N are preferablyprovided with long butts 4:6 and the jacks of the series M are provided with shorter butts 47, As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, a conventional pivoted splice widening p cker 48 lS'PI'OVldECl, which long butts 46 of the series of jacks-N to ele der' rotation, in order that said butts of the acks N may be engaged by an inclined cam 51, shown in Figured of the drawings, and

has its free end in position'to engageqthe elevated for a purpose to be subsequently described. As diagrammatically shown in Fig ure 4 of the drawings, aplunger/widening picker 33 is provided, on the cylinder, vertically reciprocable by coming'in contact with a cam for the purpose of elevating the jacks of the series P, which likewise elevate the jacks of a the series M thereabove. A spring 5%, to be more fully described hereinafter, actuates the plunger picker 33 so that it is successively brought into engagement with the lowermost of the jacks of the series vP, operating in the direction of cylinder rotation, and thus uniformly widening the splice in the stocking at one side, in synchronism with the pivoted picker 418 operating on the series of jacks N.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5 of the drawings, and also Figure 3, the'relation of the needles and series of jacks is shown. The cylinder skirt 31 of course supports the lower series of jacks P. A depend} ing supporting sleeve 60' isconnected asat 61", shown in Figure 5, to the rotatable cylinder gear, for rotation with the cylinder. At its lower end it is'laterally. offset at 61 and rotatablyreceives therein a jackplunger supporting ring 62, which is detachably heldin place bymeans of clips'63, shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. This plunger ring 62' is provided with a detachable frame 65, shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the draw-. ings, which depends as shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings, and is provided with a slot 66 for reciprocably receiving the plunger picker 33 therein. A detachable cap 67 on the lower end of theframe '65, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and also invFigure 1, holdstheplunger '33 against falling downwardly through its frame. The plunger picker 33, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, is provided with a butt or shank 70,

which is engaged by the cam portion 53 dur ing cylinder rotation for elevating the said plunger picker 33 and bringing it into contact with the butts 71 of the jacks of the series P with which it is in contact, to elevate the same asthe butt of the picker 33rides upwardly over the edge 7 5 ofthe cam'53,

shown in Figure 4. After the jack of the series P has been elevated to the extent desired, for causing an elevation of the aekjof the series M thereabove, the butt 70 of the cam 7 9, which lowers the-plunger pickerto a position out of engagementwith the jack of the series P which it has just elevated. The spring 5 then comesinto action and, pulls the plunger picker 33 to a position where its upwardly extending reduced shank80, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings,,engages a pro jection 71 of the jack of the series P next in line to be elevated, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In order that the spring 54 will not pull the plunger picker 33' past a when actuated upon by the cam 53.

the jack next in: position to be elevated, it is seen from Figure 6 of the drawings that the shank is'in position to engage a side of the Jack projection 71 which extends be-- connected at to-the picker supporting ring 62 and at its opposite end it is connected to a bracket extension 67 of a guard body 7 0 which isIa-rcuated and attached at its ends 71 and 72 to the lower marginal edge of the cylinder depending skirt 31; The spring 54 is arcuated in tensioned engagement against the segmental guard body 70, and it 1 5 is quite apparent thatvbeing attached at one end to the bracket extension 67, which is rigid with'the'cylinder, the opposite end, which is attached at 85 to the ring 62, will have a tendency to pull said ring 62 in the:

direction of rotation of the cylinder; being countered by engagement of the plunger picker 33 against that jack of the series I? which is next in line to be elevated, as shown, in Flgure l of the drawings.

widening plunger picker 33 is adapted to elevate the cylinder needles on the advancing desired number of turns of the cylinder, and that the conventional pivoted widening From the foregoing it is apparent thatjthe side of the tapered splice, successively, during each rotation of the cylinder, or during any ice picker 4-8 successively elevates, or picks the jacks thereof, which it actuates, and causes, elevation of the splice receiving needles'ot the cylinder at the retreating side of the tapered splice. I

Assuming that the tapered sp'licehas a stitch added to each sidethere'of during each full rotation ofthe cylinder, it is apparent- 11 0 from Figure 4 that during cylinder rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow in this figure,'all of the cylinder needles are lowered at the location 425 As the cylinder continues; to rotate those ja'cksof the series'M and N vwhich have been elevated by the widening pickers 33 and 48' will have theirbutts 47 and 46 respectlvely rideinto engagement with the cam 51, which is shown in Figure 1 or the drawings also, and the said acks of the series M and N will'be further elevated until they come into engagen'ient with the needles of the series K' immediately 'thereabove, elevat ing them to the position'indicated at 93' in Figure A of the drawings. -Thisr brings the butts 38 ofthe needles of-the series K, which are to receive the splice yarn,inposition to ride upwardlyupon an nclined cam 9A,wh1ch is shown in Figured and also in Figure 1,-

which are to receive the splice yarn, to the of the series K, which are elevated.

position indicated at 96 in Figure 4 of the drawings. This position'is al o indicated at 96in Figure 1 of the drawings, and the thus elevated needles of the series K are in position to talre the splice yarn 100 during cylinder rotation, This splice yarn extends in a sliding threaded relation thru the end 20 of the yarn controlling arm 21 and extends transversely across the line of the rotating cylinder needles, being supported upon a bracket arm 97, as shown in Figure 2', so as to be in position for reception upon the needles Of course,'as the splice receiving needles of the series-K all pass the splice yarn arm end 20, the spliceyarn will-ride 0d the guide arm 97 without interference, as will be readily understood Figure 4 of the drawings, having been re ceived on the elevated needles of the series K,

the same Will be knitted in to form the splice at the location 42, together with the main yarn, as will be well understood by. those familiar with this type of knitting mechanism.

- Insteadof widening the tapered splice at 7' each course of stitches in the stocking, it is preferred that every fourth course of stitches willhave a new needle stitch added to each side. 'ofthe taperedsplice. This means that for every fourth cylinder rotation a jack of the series M and a jack of the series N will have to be brought into play for causing an elevation of the corresponding cyl nder needles thereabove, for widening the splice sections. It is therefore quite obvious that the widening plunger picker 33 and the pivoted widening picker 48 will have to be kept out of operation for three cylinder rotations and brought into operation on their respective jacks at the fourth'cylinder'rotation.1"To this end, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a shaft 100 isprovided, which is rotatably supported upon a laterally extending bracket arm 1'01. Keyed to this shaft 100, is a ratchet wheel 102, and

. wheels 103 and .104 suitably notched for respectively regulating levers or members 105 and 106,which in turn respectively control the actuation of the pickers 33 and 48 upon their respective series of acks.

finovablearn 109, which is secured 2,0110 upw The ratchet wheel 102 is provided with sixteen teeth, which" are operated uponby a pawl"107,fpivoted at 108, upon a vertically on the-outer end of'an operating arm 111.

i 1 pin 113' being carried by the bracket arm 101' Tl pawl supporting arm 109- has a slot 112 therein thru which a pin 113 extends; the

above mentioned. The pawl 107 is thrown into yieldable'engagement with the teeth of theratchetwheel102 by a spring 114, under tension, as shown in Figure 1. The connec- The splice yarn, shown at 100 in.

tion 110 of the pawl supportingarm or member 109 is a pivot connection. The lever 111 is pivotedat 116 upon the frame of the machine, and at the opposite side of its pivot from the pawl it is provided with a roller 11'? operated upon by a rotating cam 119 which is keyed on a shaft 120. The shaft 120 makes one revolution for every cylinder revolution, preferably. A spring 121 under tension, holds the roller 11? against the cam 119. The. cam 119 is provided with a cut-away throw side121 which permits the operating lever 111 to movedownwardly at its pawl supported end, once during each cylinder rotation, in order that the pawl 10'? will ride over one tooth and bein position to rotate the ratchet wheel 102 for a degree-equal to the arc of one tooth, during each cylinder rotation. I 7

Referring to the levers 105 and 106, the same have a common pivot 124 upon the bracket extension. 101, as shown in Figure '1. They have extension ends 125' and 126,

respectively, operatinguupon the toothed wheels 103 and 104. The outermost lever 106 at its. opposite end operates upon the pivoted picker '48, atthe opposite side of the pivot 4S of-the latter from the end. which engagesthe jaclcbutts, as shown'in Figure 1. T e levers 105'and 106 arefrespectively' provided with springs 127 and 128 for holdmg-their" ends injengagement with their re-:

spective' notched wheels above mentioned; The plunger picker operating lever as its end is pivotally connected at 130 with a' depending member 132, shownin Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings. This member 132 at its lower end extends thru an opening 134 'camframe 138,the spring 139 of the latter will move the cams 53'a'nd' 79, which are carried'thereb out of osition where the can .7

' act upon thebutt 7 0"o'f the plunger picker 33. This can be well understood from Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings. r

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it it noted that there are four projections 145. on the wheel 103 which actuat'es'the lever 105. Bearing in mind that there are16 teeth on the ratchet wheel 102, it results that during every n'the opening 134 of the frame 135 to the fourth cylinder rotation the end 12 5 of the lever =105will ride upon one of the teeth 145, which causes the member132 to be lowered cams 53 and .7 9, which are supported on the cam frame 138, inwardly into position where they will cooperate upon the butt of the plunger picker 33 for the purpose above mentioned. lVhen the lever 105 at its end 125 operates in the recesses between the elevations 1415, as shown in Figure 5, it will be apparent that the cam member 132 will be elevated to thedotted position shown in Figure 5, which brings the cams 53 and 79 out of an operating relation with the but; of the plunger picker. V In like manner the wheel 10% which operates with the ratchet wheel 102 is provided with four recesses 150, 90 apart, into which the end 126 of the lever 106 falls during each fourth revolution of the cylinder, permitting the pivoted widening picker 43 to operatein the usual manner upon the butts of the jacks of the series N which is'next in position to be elevated.

During the knitting of the toe and heel, the pattern control mechanism operates a lever 160 which is pivoted at 161, as shown in Figure 2, to throw the free end of said lever 160 V upwardly until an adjustable screw 162 thereon elevates the lever 111 to an extent where it will not be operated'upon by the cam wheel 119, and thus preventing. actuation of the splice widening pickers during such knitting.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, when the clutch lever 170, which is pivoted at 171, is thrown in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, for cylinder oscillation during knitting of the heel and toe, the stop finger 171, which is carried by said clutch lever 170, permits the plunger picker resetting lever 17 3 to moveradially inwardly towards the cylinder. This plunger picker resetting lever 17 3 is pivoted at 17 1, as shown in Figure 3, upon the frame attached bracket 138 above mentioned, and it has a spring 175 actuating thereon, normally tending toforce the same against'the'stop finger 171*. As the clutch lever moves in, to position the cylinder for oscillation during knitting of the heel and toe, the lever 17 3 has a shoulder 176 which is positioned at that time in the path of movement of the plunger picker frame 65, so that the latter will catch on the shoulder 176 and be held stationary while the cylinder rotates in an arc of about 90, to bring the plunger picker from thelocation X, shown in Figure 3, to the location Y shown in Figure .3, thus moving it thru-the 90 indicated at Z. This tensions the spring 5 1, and the release of the lever or detent 173 is accomplished'by means of a pin 180, shown in Figure 3, and also in Figure 5, which is carried on the portion '61 which rotates with the cylinder and which rides into engagement with cam edge 183 of an upturnedcam arn1-184= which is part'of the resetting arm 173. The riding of the pin 180 against the edge 183 brings the resetting arm 173 outwardly to the,

position where it'will be caught by a pivoted retaininglever 190 and held out of the path of movement of, the plunger picker and its frame. The lever 190 is pivoted at 191upon the upper end of the clutch lever 170, and it is provided with an upwardly extending cyl- I inder facing end 192 which engages the resetting lever 173 as above describe.d,,to,hold it out of the pathof the plunger picker after resetting of the latter. A spring 193normally throws the end 192 to engage the lower surface of the resetting lever-, and it is ap parent that when the free end of the resetting lever-is thrown by the pin 180 as above described, the end 192 will act as a detent and hold it inposition after the resetting operation-has been accomplished. Theposition of the clutch lever in bothFigures 1 and 3 is shown for full cylinder rotation,'but as the clutch lever is thrown into positionfor heel and toe knitting, it is apparent that the operation will be accomplishedas above vdescribed. After the resetting operation has been accomplished and the heel and toe has been knitted, and the machine is ready for knitting another stocking, the clutch lever. will, of course, be returned to the position shown in Figure 1, and the resetting lever detent 190 will ride at an edge 196, shown .in'

Figure 1, against a frame supported bracket 197, to lower the detentend 192 againstaotion of the spring '193 and-bring the parts into their normal position for a repetition of the resetting operation whenit is to 'be accom 'plished.

At the time that the machine goes into operation for knitting of the heel and toe, the movement of the clutch lever 170 will throw a sliding cam 200, as shown .in Figure .1, inwardlyupon its support 201, so that its incli'ned cam/end 202 will ride into position for engaging-the butts 4:6 and 47. of the jacks of the series Nand M respectively, for lowering said jacks to a position where they may be again acted upon by the widening pickers 33 and 48. This will lower the butts ofthe said series ofjacks out of. operatingrelation with" Figure 7, in accordance with the above described operation of the machine, but it isof course understoodthat the taper may be varied considerably by substitution of otherv operating wheels and pawls in place of those designated at 202, 203 and 20a, to providefor various tapered knitting effects.

The cam 51 lowers the jacks of series M after the splice needle elevation, in order to permit easy elevation and lowering of the splice receiving needles. v Various changes in the method of knitting and the shape, size, and arrangement and substitution of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the in vention .or-the scope of the claims,

- I claim:

y 1. -A knitting machine having independentlyrnovable needles and means to feed a mainyarn thereto, and means functioning to modify the needle action to effect the formaat the opposite side of the central point, and

an individual widening picker'operating upon each of said series of acks during full cylinder rotation on relatively opposite sides of said centralmost needles to successively bring into actuation the needles on opposite sides of said central-most needles, and means to feed a reinforcing yarn to the needles thus brought into action.

2. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder having independently operating needles thereon, means for introducing main and reinforcing yarnsto said needles, means for knitting the main yarn, a series of acks beneath certain of said needles, a secondseries of jacks beneath other ofsaid needles,

said two series of jacks being adjacently related upon the cylinder, pickers for each of said series, and means operated synchronously with cylinder rotation for cooperatively actuating the pickers to successively elevate the jacks and'respective needles thereabove upon the cylinder during continued cylinder rotations for the formation of a tapered high splice. v

3. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder having independently operating needles thereon, means for introducing main and reinforcing yarnsto said needles, means for knitting the main yarn, a series of jacks beneath certain of said needles, a second series of jacks beneath other of said needles, said two series ofjacks being adjacently related upon the cylinder, pickers for each of said series, means operatedsynchronously with cylinder rotation for cooperatively actuating the pickers to successively elevatethe jacks and respective-needles thereabove upon the cylinder during continued cylinder rotations forthe formation of a tapered high splice, the pickers for the series of jacks at the advancing side of the rotation of the cylinder being a plunger picker having a reciprocatory motion longitudinally of the .cylinder, and the picker operating on the series of jacks succeeding the above mentioned series of jacks being a conventional pivoted picker.

a. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder having 7 independently operating needles thereon, means for introducing mainand reinforcing yarns to said needles, means for knitting the main yarn, a series of jacks beneath certain of said needles, a second series of jacks beneath other ofsaid needles, said two series of jacks being adjacently related upon the cylinder, pickers for each'of said series, means operated synchronously cylinder rotation for cooperatively actuating the pickers to successively elevate the. acks respective needles thereabove upon the cylinder during continued cylinder rotations for the formation of atapered high splice, and meansvfor holding the pickersoutiof operating relation upon theirrespective jacks during alternate rotations of said cylinder.

5. in a rotary knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a plurality of independently operated needles upon the cylinder including a series of said needlesadapted to receive a splice yarn, means for introducing main and splice yarns to said needles, and means for successively elevating the needles adapted to receive the splice yarn starting from the needles at the center of the series and operating in synchro-nism for elevation towards opposite ends of said series, said means including two individual pickers, one actuatin successivel each of the needles insaid b u y I sense to one side of the center or the serles,

and the other actuating successively each oi the needles to the other side ofthe center of said series. 1 i

6. In a rotary knitting machine the combination of a cylinder, a plurality of independently operated needles upon the cylinder including a series of said needles adapted to receive a splice yarn, means for introducing main and splice yarns to said needles, means for successively elevating the needles adapted to receive the high'splice' starting from the needles at the center of the series'and opercenter point and Working in opposite directions to provide a tapered'high splice, said means including a series of jacks operating the high splice receiving needles at one side of the central-most of said series of needles, and a second series of jacks operating on the remainder of said series of high splice receiving needles, and cooperatively operated individual picker means for each of said series of jacks.

8. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder, needles reciprocably disposed on the cylinder, a reciprocating plunger picker longitudinally operating upon said cylinder for enabling an elevation of said needles, and means for regulating the successive actuation of the needles by said picker upon a predetermined rotation of the cylinder, including a spring continuously acting on the picker to throw it into operating relation with successive needles prior to their elevation.

9. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder, independently operated needles on the cylinder, means for supplying a main yarn to said needles, a needle actuating plunger picker, means supporting the plunger picker upon the cylinder for rotation therewith, means to cause a shifting of the last mentioned means to position the plunger picker in an operating relation with successive needles during a predetermined rotary effect of said cylinder and means to supply a reintorcing yarn to said needles which have been actuated by said picker.

10. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder, independently operated needles on the cylinder, means for supplying a main yarn to said needles, a needle actuating plunger picker, means supporting the plunger picker upon the cylinder for rotation therewith, means to cause a shifting of the last mentioned means to position the plunger picker in an operating relation below successive needles during a predetermined rotary effect of said cylinder, means to supply a reinforcing yarn to said needles which have been actuated by said picker and pattern controlled means for inoperably positioning the plunger picker with respect to said needles.

11. In a circular knitting machine a cylinder, independently operated needles on the cylinder, means for supplying a main yarn to said needles, a needle actuating plunger picker, means supporting the plunger picker upon the cylinder for rotation therewith, means to cause a shifting of the last men tioned means to position the plunger picker in an operating relation with successive needles during a predetermined rotary efie'ct of said cylinder, means to supply a reinforcing yarn to said needles which have been actuated by said picker and means for resetting the plunger picker with respect to the needles of the cylinder for repetition of its successive operation o1 said needles. I

12. In a circular knitting machine a frame, a rotary cylinder on the frame, means to rotate the cylinder, a plurality oI independently operated needles on the cylinder, means'to feed main and splice yarns to said needles,

two series or" jacks on the cylinder beneath a certain section of said'needles, a third series of acks beneath one of the above mentioned series of jacks, plunger picker means, operating on the third series of aclrs foractua 'ing the series of jacks thereabove in success1on during a predetermined rotary effect of 7 a rotary cylinder on the frame, means to rotate the cylinder, at pluralityof independently operated needles on the cylinder, means to feed main and splice yarns to said needles, two series of jacks on the cylinderbeneath a certain section of said needles, a third series of jacks beneath one of the above mentioned series of acks, plunger picker means operating on the third series of jacks for actuating the series of jacks thereabove in succession during a predetermined rotary eject of said cylinder, cam means actuating on said series 01" jacks above the third series of jacks for elevating of jacks above the third series of jacks for elevating the needles in respective relation thereabove for receiving a high splice yarn, picker means operating upon the remaining series of jacks for successively bringing them into an operating relation with the cam means last mentioned for elevating the respective cylinder needles thereabove for receiving a high splice, and means actuated by a reciprocatory cylinder .movement for causing a resetting of said jacks and plunger picker.

14. In a circular knittlng machine a frame,

a rotary cylinder on theframe, means to 'rot-ate the cylinder, a plurality of independently operated needles on the cylinder, means to feed main and splice yarns to said needles,

two series of jacks on the cylinder beneath a certain section of said needles, a third series of picks beneath one of the above mentioned series of jacks, plunger picker means tive relation thereabove for receiving a high splice yarn, picker means operating upon the remainmg series of jacks for succesively bringing them into an operating relation with the cam means last mentioned for elevating the respective cylinder needles thereabove for receiving a high splice, and means actuated by the means which rotates the cylinder for r actuating the pickers at every predetermined number of rotations of "he said cylinder.

' 15. In a circular knitting machine, a retary cyiinder, a series of independent siidable yarn knitting controllin elements thereon each having abutt, a frame circumferentiaily movable about the eyiinder areciproeating}; piunger picker siidably supported frame for movement longitudinally of the cylinder including a bit end for operative engagement With the hiitis'o'f said elements, and as n ing cireumferentialiy forcing said frame about the cylinder and moving the bit end of-the picker into operating relation With the butts of successive ones of said elements.

16. In a circular knitting machine, a rotary cylinder, 7 a. series or independent siidabie yarn knitting controlling elements thereon each having a butt, a frame circuniierentiaily movable about the cylinder, a reciprocating plunger picker slidabiy supported by said frame for movement iongitndinaiiy of the cylinder including a bit end for operative engagement With the butts ofsaid elements, v

and a spring circumferentialiy forcing; said frame'aboiit the cyiinder'and moving; the hit end of the picker into operating relation With the butts of successive ones of said elements, said spring normally actuating the picker in said relation about the cylinder in the direc tion of cylinder rotation.

HARRY MGADAMS. 

